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"I wanted this medal so much, not just for me, but for my country. I had to keep myself calm before the match and try not to think about it too much. I was even more determined to win the medal, as my roommate came home last night with a silver. I feel like I am floating I am that ecstatic."

“During the match, it was vital for me to keep calm and not to rush. If I rushed then I would lose, sometimes it was necessary just to play a little slower. In the fourth game, when led 9-5 and then lost, I started thinking ahead, I kept thinking that if I could win the game I’d be three-one ahead, a big advantage.”

“During my time out, my coach told me to take a breather and not to be anxious. Mentally I felt good today, I tried hard not to think of being up or being down.”

American Coach Lily Yip on ZHANG’s win against KATO

“After Lily lost the fourth game, I told her not to worry, don’t play too safe, work harder and fight! Both players focused on their backhands and they were a little afraid to use their forehands. I tried to encourage Lily to move to direction of the play and to be prepared to play long rallies because Miyu played very safely. So it was important that Lily was aggressive.”

“The feeling is just amazing! A medal, the first ever Olympic medal for the United States!”

Congratulations on such a wonderful result at the YOG! You make us all very, very proud. Few know of the tremendous sacrifices you have all made to reach this point on the world stage! I remember in my first few years with Table Tennis giving Lily her 2nd place awards at Nationals and once I told her, your day will come. I doubt that she will remember that but it surely has. Enjoy the accomplishment as a family because you all have earned it!

Sincerely,
Mike Cavanaugh (former USATT CEO)

Congratulations to Lily and USA Table Tennis!!

Charles McClinton | USOC Mgr., Sport Performance III

An email from YOG Coach Lily Yip just arrived at USATT

Thanks everyone for your support!

Thanks ITTF, CTTF and KTTF for the great training programs. Congratulation to Lily Zhang making the history and I appreciated this opportunity to be Krish and Lily's coach.

“Lily kept calm, she controlled the play but she did make the odd mistake; it was important she did not rush”, said Lily Yip. “Tamolwan plays quite slowly, Lily has been practising with boys and here with Doo Hoi Kem and they play much faster.”

“The games were very close; we knew that Tamolwan was strong from the backhand, so Lily focused her attacking strokes towards the middle and forehand”, explained Lily Yip. “Also Lily was prepared for the forehand service Tamolwan uses but she didn’t use that much; on the few occasions she did use the service, Lily attacked quickly.”

Lily ZHANG (USA) after defeating Lisa LUNG (BEL) 4-2 in the Women’s Singles main draw to book her place in the Quarterfinals

“Her backhand is very strong, and it was not an easy match! I won the first two games but then in the third, I started to rush. After the third game, I played more to the middle but I think one of the main reasons I won was because I kept calm.”

American Coach Lily Yip on ZHANG’s win over LUNG

“Lily was under pressure, she was the higher seeded player, and was expected to win. Today she was very strong mentally and she played with good control!”

Lily ZHANG (USA) after winning PARK Seri (KOR) 3-1 in the first round of the Women’s Singles group stage

“I had watched her play in Korea and I knew that she was good with her service and first attack, especially from the forehand. For me, it was important that I returned the service well, either a short return or a flip.”

“I was thinking ahead, and eventually lost my focus. In the fourth game, she changed her services a little, having more topspin services. So it was vital that I flicked the returns. I was mentally well prepared for this match.”